Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrives in India for two-day visit

A ROVING exhibition of Don Bradman’s cricket gear will tour India for the first time ahead of the cricket World Cup, local Indian media is reporting.

Tory Shepherd Political editor

The AdvertiserSeptember 4, 20144:51pm

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is presented with flowers as he arrives in Mumbai, India, for his two-day official visit to the sub-Continent.Source:News Corp Australia

A ROVING exhibition of Don Bradman’s cricket gear will tour India for the first time ahead of the cricket World Cup, local Indian media is reporting.

The Government is yet to confirm any details, but The Telegraph says Prime Minister Tony Abbott and cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar will sign an agreement to tour Mr Bradman’s personal memorabilia.

Officials said the memorabilia was from the Bradman Museum in Bowral, NSW. It could include caps, bats, gloves and blazers.

This afternoon, Mr Abbott and former cricketers Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist will meet with Mr Tendulkar at a cricket clinic in Mumbai.

But the avid sportsman will resist the urge to do what his predecessor John Howard did in Pakistan — Mr Howard gave the most cringeworthy and memorable short delivery of

all time.

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard bowling in PakistanSource:News Corp Australia

Mr Abbott is travelling with Mr Lee and Mr Gilchrist who are representing business and education respectively.

His first act on landing in Mumbai was to lay a wreath from the Government and people of Australia at a memorial for the victims of the 2008 terrorism bombings, which killed 164 people including two Australians.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott lays a wreath at a memorial to those killed during a 2008 terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India.Source:News Corp Australia

The memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel reads “For now and forever you will inspire us”.

He then spoke at a business breakfast, and told them the story of a meal he once ate at the Taj Mahal Palace. It was a treat during the three months he spent backpacking with the Jesuits in India when he was young.

Later, Mr Abbott told business leaders India was the “emerging democratic superpower of the world”.

He clearly picked his words carefully as Australia is also strengthening business ties with the non-democratic behemoth of China.

Mr Abbott said while Australia had focussed “elsewhere” in the region he was now keen to engage with the “abundance” of opportunities in India.

“I am determined to make the most of them,” he said.

Mr Abbott, who will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow, said Mr Modi’s phrase “Come. Make in India” was “close in spirit and intent” to his own phrase that Australia is “open for business”.